Pipe supporting well tool



1966 I T. A. KENNARD 3,293,959

PIPE SUPPORTING WELL TOOL Filed June 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 760/770: A. //6w/7a/-a INVENTOR.

BY 5W1 51W ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1966 T. A. KENNARD 3,293,959

PIPE SUPPORTING WELL TOOL Filed June 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7/20/7705 A. flew/70rd INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1966 'r. A. KENNARD 3,293,959

PIPE SUPPORTING WELL TOOL Filed June 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 Tho/77cm, A flew/70rd 4' 6 INVENTOR,

/ BY ,U

United States Patent 3,293,959 PEPE SUPlORTiNG WELL TQUL Thomas A. Kennard, 1506 onrad Sauer, Houston, Tex. 77043 Filed June 115, i964, Ser. No. 379,761 7 Ciaims. (Cl. 81-54) This application is a continuation-in-part of an earlier filed co-pending application entitled Pipe Supporting Well Tool, filed February 24, 1964, hearing S.N. 346,663, by the same inventor, now abandoned. This invention relates to a well tool or apparatus for mounting on a drill ing platform or the like and for securing a length of pipe from rotation or turning during make up thereof with another piece of pipe. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for mounting over a rat hole in the drilling platform and having retractable means for supporting a length of pipe to be added to the drill string and novel means for clamping this pipe to secure it from rotation during make up with the Kelley joint. in some instances, the invention may include novel winching means for aligning the Kelley joint over the pipe joint to be added to the drilling string.

During a drilling operation, such as the drilling of oil wells, time is a very important factor. Hence, it is desirable. to perform the drilling operations as quickly as possible and with a minimum of operator time and labor. During the drilling operation and as the bit is lowered in the well bore, it becomes necessary to add additional lengths of pipe to the drill string which is supported by the Kelly joint. In order to do this, the Kelly joint must be disengaged from the drill string and another length of pipe added to the drill string. This is normally accomplished by unthreading the Kelly joint and subsequently threading it into a length of pipe which is stored in the rat hole or mouse hole as referred to in the art. The rat hole or mouse hole is an opening in the drilling platform having a hole therein for placing the length of pipe to be added.

In order to speed up this operation, the art has previously been provided with a novel Kelly spinning apparatus whereby the Kelly joint is rotated very readily and easily to facilitate the making up of the Kelly joint with other joints of pipe and for subsequently unthreading or disengaging the Kelly joint. However, this increased ease and speed of rotating the Kelly joint has presented other problems. For example, when making up the Kelly joint with the joints supported in the rat hole, there is a great tendency for the pipe to be added to be spun or turned and for the threads of the Kelly joint and the pipe to be cross-threaded or otherwise fouled. Moreover, it is sometimes diificult, as for example, on a swaying offshore platform, to pull the Kelly joint over to the position above the pipe supported in the rat hole.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved and novel apparatus for mounting on a drilling platform and over a rat hole and having means for supporting the pipe to be added and holding the pipe against rotation during make up with the Kelly joint.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for supporting -a length of pipe in a rat hole and securing said pipe against rotation during make up and having novel means for aligning the Kelly joint with the length of pipe being supported.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a novel spring mounted housing containing pipe supporting means for supporting a length of pipe to be added to a drill string, which housing facilitates the make up of the Kelly joint with the pipe length being supported without damage to the threads thereof.

These and other objectives will be obvious by the reference to the description herein.

.ing it from rotation.

Briefly stated, the invention provides an apparatus for mounting over the rat hole on a drilling platform and for supporting a length of pipe to be added to a drill string or the like and for securing the length of pipe from rotation during make up with the Kelly joint. Hence, there is a housing provided for mounting on the drilling platform and over the rat hole. A vertical opening is provided through the housing for insertion therethrough of a length of pipe to be made up. In some embodiments this housing may be mounted on springs supported by the drilling platform, such that the pipe to be made up will be resiliently supported and biased upwardly during make up with the Kelly joint.

The housing is provided with retractable pipe support means for supporting the length of pipe inserted into the vertical opening. These pipe support means may be shaped for supporting the lower end of the upper tool joint of a length of pipe and are retractable so that the lower tool joint of a length of pipe may be passed therethrough. As is well known to those skilled in the art, lengths of drill pipe are normally provided with upset or circumferentially enlarged tool joints on the ends thereof, to provide the pipe with extra wear or use capabilities since the tools applied thereto during the repeated make-upand break-out, which is customary during drilling operations, causes great wear thereon. Means are also provided for enlarging these support means in a pipe supporting position and subsequently retracting them from the supporting position.

The housing is also provided with a clamping means for clamping the pipe supported in the housing and hold- Means are also provided for first engaging the clamping means and then subsequently releasing the pipe at a predetermined time. Certain embodiments of this clamping means include rotatable clamping means such as an annular ring around the vertical opening, which ring is rotated by appropriate means and is connected to a plurality of rotatable jaws, whereby the jaws may be rotated into engagement by turning the annular ring.

In certain embodiments of the invention a winch may be mounted on the housing which winch has a cable with a stabbing hook attached thereto, whereby the Kellyjoint may be swung over and vertically aligned with the pipe joint being supported in the housing to thereby facilitate the make up.

Reference to the drawings will further explain the invention wherein like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view partially in central section showing one embodiment of the invention herein.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken at line 22 of FIG. 1 and shows the novel rotatable clamping means of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG. 1 and shows one embodiment of the novel pipe supporting means of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the pipe supporting means, the pipe clamping means, and the winch mounted on top of the housing.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view partially in section taken at line 55 of FIG. 6, and shows an alternate arrangement of the pipe supporting means of the invention.

FIG 6 is a plan view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing additional details of the alternate arrangement.

Referring now to FIG. 1, floor plate 11 of the housing of the apparatus is shown having cylindrical leg holes 12, preferably three in number, mounted therein and supporting feeder springs 13 therein. Plate 11 also has an annular opening 14 through which pipe 15 is passed for insertion into and support in the rat hole. Hence, floor plate 11 is designed to be mounted over the rat hole on a drilling platform and may be tilted at a slight angle so as to line up pipe 15 with the Kelly joint, which tilting may be accomplished by jack screws (not shown) or the like, to raise one side of floor plate 11. Three tubular legs 16 are positioned in leg holes 12 and supported on springs 13 by pins 17 passing transversely through legs 16. Hence, it may be said that legs 16 are supported by springs 13 which are connected to the platform by means of floor plate 11.

Legs 16 are welded or otherwise secured to bottom frame plate 18 which is rectangular in plan view and has an annular opening therein for passage of pipe 15 therethrough. An annular receiving ring 19 is mounted about the annular opening in plate 18 and is provided with a radially inward and upward extending beveled edge to facilitate the movement of pipe 15 and its lower tool joint therethrough.

Bottom frame plate 18 is secured by bolts 22, two spaced apart channel shaped frame members 23 which are best seen in FIG. 4. The top flanges of frame members 23 are secured by bolts 24 to top frame plate 25 which is also rectangular in shape and has an annular opening for passage of pipe 15 therethrough.

Mounted on top of top frame plate 25 is an annular shaped bottom head plate 26 on which is mounted annular upper housing 27, which has an annular opening therethrough with receiving ring 28 mounted thereabout. Ring 28 is beveled inward and downward so as to facilitate the movement of pipe 15 therethrough. A rectangular slot 29 is provided in the side of upper housing 27 with engaging arm 30 extending therethrough, which arm connects with linkage arm 31, which is connected by hinge pin 32 to stem connector 33, which is designed to be reciprocated back and forth by the action of fluid or air cylinder 34, which is controlled by control valve 35, the handle of which is mounted on the side of the apparatus.

An optional attachment to this rat hole back up tool is a winch means for pulling the Kelly joint over the top of the rat hole. This winch means takes the form of air winch 39 mounted in winch frame 40, which is connected to one side of bottom head plate 26. Winch 39 is provided with cable 41 wound thereon and off by operation of winch control handle 42. Cable 41 passes over sheave 43 which is connected to frame 40, with the end of cable 41 being attached to stabbing hook 44, having gripping handle 45 provided on the end thereof as best seen in FIG. 4. There it will be seen that hook 44 is also provided with plum pin 46, with nut 47 threaded thereon. By adjusting nut 47 on plum pin 46 the length of stabbing hook 44 can thereby be adjusted.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be observed that plum pin 46 is designed to enter slot 48 provided in the top portion of winch frame 40. In operation of the winching means, hook 44 would be secured around Kelly joint 50 and then by taking up on cable 41 by operation of winch 39, stabbing hook 44 would be drawn up to the position shown in FIG. 1 with nut 47 contacting frame 40 and with plum pin 46 being held in slot 48, with nut 47 stalling the winch and thereby securely aligning Kelly joint 50 over tool joint 51 of pipe 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be observed that a ring shaped engage plate 54 is mounted on top of and supported by bottom head plate 26 for rotation thereon. Concentrically positioned inside of engage plate 54 is another annular ring shown as anchor plate 55, which is held to bottom head plate 26 by master pins 56, each of which has mounted on the upper end thereof rotatable clamping means in the form of holding jaws 57 which are designed to pivot thereabout.

Engage plate 54 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending drive pins 58 which are designed to engage U-sh-aped slots 59 in the end of each one of the holding jaws 57. The opposite ends of jaws 57 are provided with pipe clamping inserts 60 for clamping pipe joint 51 when rotated radially inwardly, which inserts are held in jaws 57 by hold pins 61. Engage plate 54 is arranged to be rotated counterclockwise to thereby permit drive pins 58 to cam jaws 57 in a counter-clockwise direction whereby inserts 60 are caused to contact and thereby clamp tool joint 51 to hold it from rotation. Engage plate 54 is also designed to rotate clockwise to thereby cam jaws 57 to a retracted and nonclamping position as shown in FIG. 2. It will be observed that during pivoting of holding jaws 57 in counter-clockwise directions, as viewed from above in FIG. 2, each of the contacting surfaces of the inserts 60, which are adapted to engage pipe joint 51, moves through a horizontal are which intersects the circumference of tool joint 51. Hence, when inserts 60 are pivoted counter-clockwise to engagement with pipe joint 51, the torque thereafter applied to pipe joint 51 causing clockwise rotation thereof during make up with Kelly joint 50, causes inserts 60 to be pivoted further in a counter-clockwise direction, whereby greater clamping forces are applied against tool joint 51 to prevent rotation thereof. Moreover, because of the pivoted arrangement of holding jaws 57 and inserts 64 the contacting surfaces of inserts 60 automatically release on any back lash torque applied to tool joint 51, which may occur when make up is completed. This automatic releasing feature insures that the connection just made will not be loosened by the back lash.

The means for rotating engage plate 54 includes engaging arm 30 which is welded or otherwise secured thereto and which extends out slot 29 provided in the side of upper housing 27. Engaging arm 30 is caused to rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise by operation of air cylinder 34 through stem connector 33 and hinge pin 32. The foregoing generally describes one embodiment of the rotatable clamping means of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pipe support means will be described in detail. There are two rectangular shaped stop plates 65, the leading edges of which are provided with semi-circular recesses which together form an annular opening through which pipe 15 passes and above which the lower end of tool joint 51 is supported by beveled edges 66 thereof. Stop plates 65 are secured by bolts 67 to flaps 68 which are in the nature of hinge plates and are supported on hinge pins 69, as seen in FIG. 1. Pins 69 extend transversely across the housing with the ends thereof being supported by frame members 23. The ends of pins 69 are secured by hearing supports 70 mounted on the outside of frame members 23 and by bushings 71 on the inside edges of frame members 23. Each pin 69 is provided with a locking nut 72, which connects with means for rotating stop plates 65 in opposite directions to thereby raise and lower them from a supporting position.

Referring to FIG. 4, there it will be seen that locking nut 72 is connected to rocking connector 73, which is connected by hinge pin 74 to stem connector 75, which is arranged to be oscillated back and forth by operation of air cylinder 76 as shown in FIG. 3. The opposite end of air cylinder 76 is provided with stem connector 77, which is similarly connected by appropriate mechanical linkages to raise and lower the other stop plate 65 by rotating it in the opposite direction. Thus, when the piston of air cylinder is moved in one direction, both stop plates 65 will be raised, and when moved in the opposite direction both plates 65 will be lowered to a pipe supporting position. Rotation of stop plates 65 beyond specified limits is controlled by plate heels 78 attached to the inside edges of frame members 23. Stop plates 65 are supported on the lower side thereof by weight plates 79 which are supported on bottom frame plate 18.

vReferring now to FIG. 3, when control valve 35 is in the number 1 position, air pressure is supplied via line 82 such that fluid or air cylinders 34 and 37 are so moved that stop plates 65 and holding jaws 57 are held in the retracted or non-engaging position. While being so held, pipe may be inserted through the vertical opening in the housing and passed downwardly therethrough. At this point control valve 35 can be moved to position number 2., which thereby supplies air pressure to cylinder 76, via line 33, thus causing stop plates 65 to be rotated to the down or supporting position as shown in FIG. 3. As pipe 15 is lowered further, beveled edge 66 of stop plate 65 will engage the bottom edge of tool joint 51, thereby supporting pipe 15. With pipe 15 thus supported, control valve 35 can be moved to position number 3, which thus supplies air to air cylinder 34 via line 84 which causes engage plate 54 to be rotated counter-clockwise, thereby engaging holding clamps 57 to thereby secure tool joint 51 from rotation.

At this point Kelly joint 50 can be positioned perpendicularly over the end of tool joint 51 by operation of air winch 39 and stabbing hook 44. Thus positioned, Kelly joint 50 may be lowered into contact with tool joint 51 and threaded thereinto. It will be remembered that the apparatus housing is generally supported by legs 16 riding on feeder springs 13. Springs 13 will thus tend to feed tool joint 51 into Kelly joint 50. By being resiliently mounted in this manner, the make up of the threads is greatly facilitated and damage to threads is reduced to a minimum.

In many instances, it is desirable to determine whether or not the Kelly joint is completely made up with the tool joint of the pipe being added to the drill string. If the connection is not secure, then it may be desirable to use additional tongs to complete the threading operation. However, if the operator knows that the Kelly joint has been threaded into the tool joint of the additional length of pipe by the application of sufficient torque pressure, then he knows that the tongs are not necessary, thereby speeding up the operation. In another embodiment of the present invention, there has been incorporated in the apparatus a torque indicator which indicates the amount of torque exerted on the tool joint of the pipe being added to or threaded onto the Kelly joint. Reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 will show one embodiment of the invention utilizing such a torque indicator.

As stated earlier, FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view partially in section'of an apparatus similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but with the torque indicating means incorporated therein. Aside from the torque indicating means which will now be described, the apparatuses are similar in other respects. In this embodiment, the apparatus is provided with legs 85 which correspond with and are similar to legs 16 of FIG. 1. Legs '35 are attached at their upper ends to a rectangular shaped plate 86 which corresponds with plate 18 ofFlG. 1. Plate 86 has connected thereto on the under left side as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, a lower connecting arm 87 which is welded or otherwise secured thereto. Arm 87 has a curved elbow through which pin 88 passes and thereby connects to fluid cylinder 89. Fluid cylinder 89 is arranged to have pressure gauge 90 connected to the fluid chamber in fluid cylinder 89, such that any change in pressure on the fluid will be registered by pressure gauge 99. Pressure gauge 90 is so selected that it will record the maximum pressure exerted on the fluid in cylinder 89 or the maximum pressure change and will hold this reading until the dial is returned to zero by actuation of a manual release on indicator 90.

Cylinder 89 has provided therein piston 91 which is adapted for longitudinal movement within cylinder 89 to thereby compress the fluid contained in cylinder 89. The end of piston 91 is connected by pin 92 to an elbow shaped upper connecting arm 93, which in turn is welded or otherwise secured to upper torque plate 94, which is similar in plan view to plate 36, and overlies plate 86. Attached to the upper side of torque plate 94 by bolts 95,

6 are frame members 96. Bolts 95 and frame members 96 correspond respectively to bolts 22 and frame member 23 of FIG. 1.

Frame members 96 have attached thereto the pipe supporting mechanism in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, rectangular shaped stop plates 97 are identical to stop plates 65 of FIG. 1 and are attached to flaps 98 by bolts 99, which flaps 98 being supported by hinge pins 199. Stop plates 97 have an opening therethrough for passage of a pipe but are shaped to support the lower end of the upper tool joint of a pipe when in the lowered position, as shown in FIG. 5. Downward movement of stop plates 97 is prevented by weight plates lltll secured therebeneath and attached to plate 94. It is to be understood that stop plates 97, bolts 99, flaps 98, hinge pins 169 and weight plates 1M correspond respectively to plates 65, bolts 67, flaps 68, pins 69, and weight plates 79 of FIGS. 1 and 3, and are identical in structure and operation, as is the balance of the apparatus thereabove.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is included between upper torque plate 94 and plate 86, a swivel means whereby upper torque plate 94 may be turned in relation to plate 86 by'the action of the Kelly joint during make-up with the pipe being supported by the apparatus.

One convenient form of this torque means comprises an annular stop ring 192 which is mounted inside of the annular opening in plate 36, and is welded or otherwise secured to upper torque plate 94. On the bottom side of stop ring 1.92, lower ring 193 is connected thereto by bolts 194, or other suitable means. It will be observed that lower ring 193 has the same internal diameter as stop ring 192 but has a larger external diameter, hence forming a swivel whereby upper torque plate 94- may be turned relative to lower plate 86 but the two plates will not separate in an axial direction, i.e., up and down direction.

Reference to FIG. 6 will also show that stop ring 192 is provided with a stop means in the form of lug 195 which is shaped for circumferential movement in slot 1106 provided in plate 86. The purpose of lug 195 is to permit relative circumferential movement of stop ring 192 and hence upper torque plate 94 relative to plate 8-6, but to limit such relative movement to the length of slot 106, and thus provide a safety factor.

During make up of the Kelly joint with the tool joint of the pipe being supported in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the torque applied to the Kelly joint will be transmitted to the tool joint of the pipe being supported in the apparatus with the result that the apparatus including upper torque plate 94 will be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. By operation of the swivel means described above, upper torque plate 94 will turn relative to plate 86, with the result that upper arm 93 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby exerting pressure on piston 91 which will thereby cause a pressure increase to be recorded on pressure gauge 90, which of course, is calibrated to reflect the corresponding torque pressure and to maintain that recording until released. By observing the indication on pressure gauge 99, the operator can determine whether or not the Kelly joint is fully made up with the pipe being added to the drill string. By being sure that there is a proper make up in this manner, the operator does not have to subsequently use the tongs and hence the operations are speeded up. When the pipe is removed from the apparatus by lifting up on the Kelly joint, the torque means described above will then return to position shown in FIG. 6 inasmuch as fluid pressure on piston 91 will cause upper torque plate 94 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction until lug 195 contacts the end of slot 106 and at which point the apparatus is ready for another operation.

The foregoing generally describes one means for indicating the torque applied to the pipe during make up. It includes a novel swivel means, and a novel indicating means, with the indicating means showing the amount of torque applied at the swivel means during make up. It

is to be understood that other swivel means and torque indicator means could be used in this invention.

The art has been provided with a highly successful and easily operated well tool apparatus for supporting a length of pipe and holding that length of pipe against rotation during make up. The apparatus greatly reduces the time required for make up and is so arranged that there is a minimum damage to the threaded portions of the pipes during make up.

Further modifications may be made in the invention as particularly described without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly the foregoing description is to be construed illustratively only, and is not to be construed as a limitation upon the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for mounting over the rat hole on a drilling platform and for supporting and securing a length of pipe having tool joints on the upper and lower ends thereof from rotation during make up, comprising:

a housing for mounting on said platform in a stationary position over said rat hole and having a vertical opening therethrough for insertion of said length of pipe to be made up,

retractable pipe support means mounted in said housing and including at least two members adapted for supporting the lower end of the upper tool joint of said length of pipe inserted into said opening, said members being connected to said housing for rotation in opposite directions through generally vertical arcs to and from the supporting position,

means connected to said housing for rotating said members to and from the supporting position,

clamping means mounted in said housing for engaging and clamping the upper tool joint of said pipe supported in said opening and securing said pipe against rotation, and

means for first engaging said clamping means in a clamping position against said supported tool joint and for subsequently releasing said tool joint at a predetermined time.

2. I11 an apparatus for securing a length of pipe having tool joints on the upper and lower ends thereof from rotation during make up on a drilling platform having a rat hole therein, comprising:

a housing for mounting on said platform in a stationar position over the rat hole and having a vertical opening therethrough for insertion of said length of pipe to be made up,

retractable pipe support means mounted in said housing and including means for supporting the lower end of the upper tool joint of said length of pipe inserted into said opening,

means for engaging said support means in a pipe supporting position and for subsequently retracting said support means,

clamping means above said pipe support means, mounted in said housing for engaging and clamping the upper tool joint of said pipe supported in said opening, said clamping means including a plurality of pivoted gripping members each of which has a tool joint contacting surface which is adapted for movement through a generally horizontal are which intersects the circumference of said tool joint, and

means for first rotating said gripping members counterclockwise as viewed from above to a clamping position to thereby secure said pipe from turning and for subsequently rotating said gripping members in the opposite direction to release said pipe.

3. In an apparatus for securing a length of drill pipe having tool joints on the upper and lower ends thereof from rotation during make up on a drilling platform comprising:

a housing mounted in a stationary position on said platform and having a vertical opening therethrough for insertion therein of said length of pipe to be made up,

retractable pipe support means mounted in said housing for supporting the lower end of said upper tool joint of said length of pipe inserted into said opening, said support means including at least one pivotally mounted member adapted to engage the lower end of said tool joint in the support position and connected to pivot through a generally vertical arc to and from said supporting position,

means connected to said housing for pivoting said member to and from the supporting position,

rotatable clamping means mounted in said housing for engaging and clamping the upper tool joint of said pipe supported in said opening, said clamping means including a plurality of pivoted gripping members each of which has a tool joint contacting surface which is adapted for movement through a generally horizontal are which intersects the circumference of said tool joint,

means for first rotating said gripping members in counterclockwise directions as viewed from above to a clamping position to thereby secure said pipe from turning and for subsequently rotating said gripping members in the opposite direction to release said pipe.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said clamping means includes an annular member supported in said housing about said vertical opening, with said annular member having a plurality of camming surfaces positioned for engagement with said plurality of gripping members in the form of rotatable holding jaws, and including means connected to said annular member for rotating said annular member, whereby said jaws are engaged and retracted thereby.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including:

means for connecting said housing to said platform, and

torque indicating means comprising swivel means connected between the portion of said housing supporting said clamping means and said means for connecting said housing to said platform, and

means for indicating the amount of torque pressure applied at said swivel means during said make up.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said support means includes a pair of said members in the form of spaced apart stop plate having leading edges spaced on opposite sides of said pipe and adapted to support the lower end of the upper tool joint of said pipe, said plates being connected to said housing for rotation in opposite directions through generally vertical arcs to and from the supporting positions, and

including means for rotating said stop plates in opposite directions to and from the supporting positions.

7. In an apparatus for securing a length of pipe having tool joints on the upper and lower ends thereof from rotation during make up on a drilling platform having a 60 rat hole therein, comprising:

a housing for mounting on said platform in a stationary position over the rat hole and having a vertical opening therethrough for insertion of said length of pipe to be made up,

retratcable pipe support means mounted in said housing and including a pair of spaced apart stop plates having generally semicircular recesses in the leading edges thereof for forming an annular engaging surface for supporting the lower end of the upper tool joint of said pipe, and being mounted on horizontal pivot pins secured to the rearward sides of said plates,

means for engaging said support means in a pipe supporting position and for subsequently retracting said support means including means to rotate said stop plates in opposite directions, whereby said stop plates are rotated through generally vertical arcs to and from the supporting position,

clamping means mounted in said housing for engaging and clamping the upper tool joint of said pipe supported in said opening, said clamping means including at least one pivoted gripping member the contacting surface of which is adapted for movement through a generally horizontal arc which intersects the circumference of said tool joint, and

means for first rotating said gripping member counterclockwise as viewed from above to a clamping posi tion to thereby secure said pipe from turning and for subsequently rotating said gripping member in the opposite direction to release said pipe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Chapman 16677.5 Robichaux et al. 166-775 Sunde 29-240 X Dietzmann et al. 166-775 Calhoun 166-77.5 Wilson 166-775 Stone l73164 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN AN APPARATUS FOR SECURING A LENGTH OF PIPE HAVING TOOL JOINTS ON THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF FROM ROTATION DURING MAKE UP ON A DRILLING PLATFORM HAVING A RAT HOLE THEREIN, COMPRISING: A HOUSING FOR MOUNTING ON SAID PLATFORM IN A STATIONARY POSITION OVER THE RAT HOLE AND HAVING A VERTICAL OPENING THERETHROUGH FOR INSERTION OF SAID LENGTH OF PIPE TO BE MADE UP, RETRACTABLE PIPE SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE LOWER END OF THE UPPER TOOL JOINT OF SAID LENGTH OF PIPE INSERTED INTO SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN A PIPE SUPPORTING POSITION AND FOR SUBSEQUENTLY RETRACTING SAID SUPPORT MEANS, 